Spring is here! So while planning and planting your garden, you may want to update your lawn furniture. Today’s gardens and patios are more than just a place to eat at the picnic table for the occasional barbeque. Gardens are outdoor rooms. Here in the Pacific Northwest the evenings are long and what a better way to enjoy those long evenings than sitting in a comfortable chair. One of the most comfortable and timeless chairs for your outdoor room is the Adirondack.

From the chair’s origins in the 1900s, the Adirondack continues to be one of the most popular pieces in a garden setting. Thomas Lee designed the original chair in 1903 while vacationing with his family in Westport, NY. He wanted a comfortable lawn chair to furnish his summer home. He began nailing boards together and testing his prototypes with family members. Each prototype was made from a single pine plank and featured wide armrests that are the hallmark of the Adirondack style.

His creation might never have become famous except that Lee offered the design to a friend, Harry Bunnell, as a source of winter income. Without asking Lee’s permission, Bunnell filed for a patent on the Westport chair in 1904 and received it in 1905. In his patent he wrote, “The object of this invention is a chair of the bungalow type adapted for use on porches, lawns, camps and also adapted to be converted into an invalid’s chair.” Thus did the Adirondack style become a mainstay of garden furniture.

Adirondacks don’t need to be expensive. Buying an unfinished chair and finishing it yourself not only saves money but also lets you choose the finish. The original chairs were green and dark brown. It’s your choice of color when you buy an unfinished one. After a couple hours of work over the weekend you’ll be sitting pretty and happy about the money you saved. There’s also the pride of doing the task yourself. It’s a great weekend project for the family.

Example of a Adirondack Chair kit.

Step 1: Before assembly, a light sanding may be needed on all parts. Use 400 grit sandpaper.	Step 2: After all parts have been lightly sanded apply outdoor linseed oil with a soft cloth (T-shirt). Be generous with the oil. You need to apply enough oil so there’s excess to wipe off. The more you apply on the first coat, the fewer coats needed.	Step 3: Wait 10 to 15 minutes before wiping off with a clean cloth. Let the first coat dry overnight.
Step 4: On day two use a fine sandpaper (400 grit) or light steel wool (0000) to smooth out the first coat.	Step 5: Apply the second coat of oil, (see Step 2) and wipe off after 10 minutes. The oil cures in 12 to 24 hours and will be ready for a summer’s worth of relaxation. Reapply oil once a year as you would your deck.	Step 6: Assemble your kitaccording to the supplied directions.

WARNING: After using rags to apply and wipe off oil do not roll up and throw in the trash.
Flatten out the rags and let dry before throwing out. Rolled-up rags can catch on fire.